Robert Turner said he put "triangle choke" on man who broke into his home.

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

LAKELAND | It's not the best idea to break into a home occupied by a martial arts enthusiast.

That's what Lakeland police are saying about a man who was in his home on Sylvester Road on Wednesday afternoon when two teens broke in. After a chase, one of the two was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant. The burglary victim said he put a debilitating "triangle choke" on the suspect.

The incident led to the arrest of Anthony J. Martin, 17, of 1403 Crescent Place in Lakeland.

Lakeland police are searching for the second suspect.

Robert Turner, 24, a chef at Black & Brew in Lakeland, was home with the flu Wednesday when he heard the doorbell ring. Turner ignored it, and soon two men opened his bedroom door, took a look and ran, Turner said.

Turner said the two scrambled out his back door and jumped a fence. Turner chased them and was scraped and bruised by the fence when it snapped back at him. The two suspects split up, and Turner followed one of them who was running down Sylvester Road.

They passed the home of Turner's friend, Mike Molinaro, who saw the commotion and called 911. Molinaro said it was "amazing" how fast LPD officers arrived to help.

The suspect ran half a mile, past the McDonald's on Bartow Road, and doubled back into the restaurant, Turner said.

Turner said he has taken taekwondo and jujutsu classes. He said he confronted Martin in the restaurant and put him on the ground with a judo throw. They struggled and Martin wound up on top, punching him re­peatedly.

Not to worry, Turner said. He said he watches Ultimate Fighting Championship "all the time" and put Martin into the triangle choke, using his legs to put pressure on Martin's neck, the idea being to try to cut the blood supply to the brain.

"It was all over then," Turner said.

Turner held Martin until police arrived, an LPD report said.

Turner reported to police that $20 was missing from his home and said the teens took a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator but dropped it at his bedroom door when they saw him.

Martin was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary of an occupied structure, petty theft and criminal mis­- chief. Lakeland police said Martin was not accepted by juvenile authorities because he had an outstanding warrant on a concealed gun charge.

A jail spokeswoman said late Thursday that Martin was being held without bond.

LPD Capt. John Thomason said the department is looking for the other man involved in the break-in. He is about 18 years old, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and about 175 pounds with a fade haircut. He was wearing basketball shorts and a T-shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lakeland police at 834-6900.

Thomason said there have been other recent reports of home break-ins in the area, and police are investigating to determine whether the same two could be responsible.

<p>LAKELAND | It's not the best idea to break into a home occupied by a martial arts enthusiast.</p><p>That's what Lakeland police are saying about a man who was in his home on Sylvester Road on Wednesday afternoon when two teens broke in. After a chase, one of the two was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant. The burglary victim said he put a debilitating "triangle choke" on the suspect.</p><p>The incident led to the arrest of Anthony J. Martin, 17, of 1403 Crescent Place in Lakeland.</p><p>Lakeland police are searching for the second suspect.</p><p>Robert Turner, 24, a chef at Black & Brew in Lakeland, was home with the flu Wednesday when he heard the doorbell ring. Turner ignored it, and soon two men opened his bedroom door, took a look and ran, Turner said.</p><p>Turner said the two scrambled out his back door and jumped a fence. Turner chased them and was scraped and bruised by the fence when it snapped back at him. The two suspects split up, and Turner followed one of them who was running down Sylvester Road.</p><p>They passed the home of Turner's friend, Mike Molinaro, who saw the commotion and called 911. Molinaro said it was "amazing" how fast LPD officers arrived to help.</p><p>The suspect ran half a mile, past the McDonald's on Bartow Road, and doubled back into the restaurant, Turner said.</p><p>Turner said he has taken taekwondo and jujutsu classes. He said he confronted Martin in the restaurant and put him on the ground with a judo throw. They struggled and Martin wound up on top, punching him re­peatedly.</p><p>Not to worry, Turner said. He said he watches Ultimate Fighting Championship "all the time" and put Martin into the triangle choke, using his legs to put pressure on Martin's neck, the idea being to try to cut the blood supply to the brain.</p><p>"It was all over then," Turner said.</p><p>Turner held Martin until police arrived, an LPD report said.</p><p>Turner reported to police that $20 was missing from his home and said the teens took a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator but dropped it at his bedroom door when they saw him.</p><p>Martin was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of burglary of an occupied structure, petty theft and criminal mis­- chief. Lakeland police said Martin was not accepted by juvenile authorities because he had an outstanding warrant on a concealed gun charge.</p><p>A jail spokeswoman said late Thursday that Martin was being held without bond.</p><p>LPD Capt. John Thomason said the department is looking for the other man involved in the break-in. He is about 18 years old, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and about 175 pounds with a fade haircut. He was wearing basketball shorts and a T-shirt.</p><p>Anyone with information is asked to call Lakeland police at 834-6900.</p><p>Thomason said there have been other recent reports of home break-ins in the area, and police are investigating to determine whether the same two could be responsible.</p>